- The year 2020 will go down as one of the most horrendous and debilitating for many countries. India is no exception as the nation continues to battle out not only from the increasingly worrying surge of the pandemic but also on the effects of the aftermath of lockdown on economic health. The recently reported GDP contraction to the tune of 23.9 percent is extremely distressing necessitating every conceivable measure to revive the economy from going further downhill.
PC: economic times
- Another equally significant issue that has all the worrying components to escalate into a major headache, if not already, is the disturbing happenings on the Line of Actual Control of Ladakh area. Unprovoked Chinese transgression first noticed in May is turning out to be nightmarish going by the unfolding events. After a few rounds of Diplomatic and Military level talks between the two sides, nothing concrete vis-à-vis de-escalation or thawing is noticeable. Talks to resolve the deadlock continue though.
- As dark clouds of uncertainty gather on the horizon, the raging pandemic and the Chinese incursions will test the resolve of the government as well as its citizens in the coming days. To its credit, the ruling dispensation has handled this double whammy satisfactorily though there are enough voices severely critical of the moves holding the former responsible for the widespread distress. Taking the enemy by surprise, the government has initiated few adroit moves against the aggression befittingly, of late.
PC: newsnation tv
- The latest attempts undertaken to claim strategic locations in the eastern Ladakh area by the Indian Army is laudatory for its daredevilry as also calculated risks in the face of the tense eyeball to eyeball confrontational situation at the borders. Adapting digital warfare, the move to ban hundreds of applications to pre-empt potential security breaches on sensitive digital frontiers as also checkmating cyber-attacks are indeed welcome. These decisions have indeed rattled the dragon nation is stating the obvious.
- Consequently, the other side has further strengthened its forces by beefing up the troop levels alongside the usual paraphernalia of military armory. India has received sustained support from the international community but cannot let the guard down as the geopolitical strategies are dictated by pragmatism suiting each country’s self-benefits and hence, the government should make every effort at keeping up the pressure on the diplomatic front. Rallying like-minded nations by building pressure groups should be prioritized.
PC: usni news
- Amidst all these happenings comes the Pentagon report that the Chinese Navy has expanded to become the largest force in the world possessing an inventory of 350 warships overtaking the US Navy’s 292 warships. New Delhi must be extremely watchful on the seafront as the modern warfare positions seas as the new grounds of the powerplay. Here too, New Delhi must join hands with other friendly nations for carrying out a naval exercise to ensure Beijing is made aware of potential challenges.
